Vietnamese Grammar Bank
VIETNAMESE PREPOSITIONS
Prepositions play a crucial role in Vietnamese grammar, as they help express relationships between nouns and other words in a sentence.
This lesson will explore common Vietnamese prepositions, their meanings, and how to use them correctly in various contexts.
PARTICLE Ở
There is only one preposition particle in Vietnamese which is “ở”.
You can use this particle to describe the position of things following this pattern below:
PATTERN
Subject + ở (to be) + prepositions + object
MOST COMMON PREPOSITIONS
| Vietnamese | English |
|---|---|
| trên | on |
| dưới | under |
| bên trái | left side |
| bên phải | right side |
| trong | inside |
| ngoài | outside |
| trước | in front of |
| sau | at behind |
| bên cạnh / kế bên | next to |
| giữa A và B | between A and B |
| chính giữa | at the middle of |
| đối diện | opposite / across |
| gần | near |
| xa | far |
| xung quanh | around |
EXAMPLES
Here are a few more sentence examples to help you see how it works.
| Vietnamese | English |
|---|---|
| Quả bóng ở trên cái bàn | The ball is on the table |
| Quả bóng ở dưới cái bàn | The ball is under the table |
| Con gà ở bên trái cái ly | The chicken is at the left side of the glass |
| Cái ly ở bên phải con gà | The glass is at the right side of the chicken |
| Cây bút ở trong balo | The pen is inside of the bag |
| Chai nước ở ngoài balo | The bottle of water is outside of the bag |
| TV ở trước cái ghế | TV is in front of the chair |
| Bếp ở sau phòng khách | The kitchen is at behind the living room |
| Sư tử ở bên cạnh / kế bên thỏ | The lion is next to the rabbit |
| Tôi ở giữa cô giáo và mẹ | I am in between teacher and mom |
| Tôi ở chính giữa phòng học | I am in the middle of the classroom |
| Tôi ở đối diện bàn học của em gái | I am at opposite / across my sister’s desk |
| Việt Nam ở gần Thái Lan | Vietnam is near to Thailand |
| Việt Nam ở xa Mỹ | Vietnam is far from America |
| Cỏ ở xung quanh nhà | The house is around with grass |
Learn Vietnamese with FlexiClasses
Book online classes with the best teachers in the industry.
FAQs
What are the most common prepositions?
Some common Vietnamese prepositions include trên (on), dưới (under), trước (in front of), sau (behind), and giữa (between).
How do prepositions function in Vietnamese?
Prepositions in Vietnamese typically indicate relationships of place, time, and direction, often appearing before a noun or pronoun to provide context, such as “cái bàn ở trên” (the table is on top).
Do prepositions change based on gender?
No, Vietnamese prepositions do not change based on gender or number; they remain the same regardless of the nouns they refer to.
How to express time using prepositions?
Time expressions often use prepositions such as trong (in) for durations, like “trong một giờ” (in an hour), or trước (before) and sau (after) for specific times, like “trước 5 giờ” (before 5 o’clock).
Can I learn Vietnamese online with LTL?
Absolutely!
With Flexi Classes you can study Vietnamese 24/7 in both group or individual classes.
Choose your study time and study topic, make progress fast.
Can I study in Vietnam with LTL?
Yes, you can!
You can study with us in Saigon or Hanoi, in both group or individual classes.
You’ll even have the opportunity to live with a Vietnamese family, thanks to our homestays.